India’s GDP Data Puzzle: Pronab Sen on Deflators, Revisions and Trust

India’s latest GDP numbers have triggered a wider debate over growth, inflation adjustment and the credibility of official statistics.

Rajesh Mahapatra speaks with Dr Pronab Sen, former Chief Statistician of India, about the questions surrounding the new GDP series.

Sen explains why double deflation is conceptually the right approach but requires far more granular price data. He asks whether enough information has been disclosed to allow independent scrutiny of the new methodology.

The conversation also examines why the shift to the 2022-23 base year lowered estimates of the size of the economy, what future revisions could mean for historical growth rates, and why transparency is central to restoring confidence in official data.

They also discuss the role of the National Statistical Commission, quarterly estimates for the informal economy and whether headline GDP growth is adequately capturing employment-intensive sectors.

Watch the full conversation for a deeper look at the numbers behind India’s GDP debate.